Syria slams Saudi Arabia for being direct partner in shedding more Syrian blood

Syria has lashed out at Saudi Arabia over signaling support for arming anti-government groups in the crisis-hit Arab state, accusing Riyadh of becoming a “partner” in the unrest in Syria.

A commentary in the state-run Al Thawra daily on Saturday denounced remarks by Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal who had said the idea of providing weapons and ammunition to Syrian rebels is “excellent.”

“It’s shameful for the vocabulary of the Saudi speech to reach this level … and to announce so rudely support for terrorists,” Al Thawra said.

The commentary added that by backing armed terrorists in Syria, Saudi Arabia has become a “direct partner in shedding more Syrian blood.”

Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador to Syria in August, nearly five months after unrest struck the country, and since then has launched a worldwide campaign against the government of President Bashar al-Assad, especially by exercising pressure on Damascus through the Arab League.

A three-day summit of 60 anti-Assad nations kicked off in Tunisia on Friday under the title of “Friends of Syria” with the stated aim of discussing the unrest in the crisis-stricken country.

After urging the gathering to arm Syrian rebels on Friday, the Saudi delegation left the summit over what they called the “inactivity” among the member states gathered.

Qatar has also called for supplying anti-Assad groups with arms and financial support. Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, on Saturday called for the creation of an Arab force to “open humanitarian corridors to provide security to the Syrian people.”

The remarks come as Syria is holding a referendum on Sunday on the country’s new constitution, with more than 13,000 polling stations for 14.6m voters, which calls for a multi-party parliamentary election within three months.

Syria has repeatedly blamed the unrest on “terrorists and outlaws,” saying the violence is orchestrated from abroad.